SORRY! Sorry that it took me so long to update this. But I really had no motivation to write this chapter (it was so boring for me – to the end it went better) So now here it is finally. I had holidays and I think that only in these times I can update. School sucks and kills my motivation! Enough rant, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Masashi Kishimoto, if so I would own Itachi! I only own my ideas.
Otouto – Sasuke's comments
Otouto – thoughts (mainly Itachi's and Sasuke's)
Chapter 9 – Memories: No screwing up - the last chance!
Previous chapter:
Smiling, the pink haired girl's eyes went off the bird and back to Itachi, smiling more widely now she went on.
"How do you wanna name it?"
Silence followed, wind brushed, bushes and trees rushled but Itachi stayed still, frozen in thoughts and thinking about it. After a long pause with coming up with the best name he looked at the two Genin and opened his mouth to speak.
End previous chapter.
Why do you have to think so long, Itachi? I know that you will name it with your own name. That's what being 'the best' is. The ones who think they are the best always pass their names to the others. And in that case it won't be an exception.
How would I have named it? I don't know, even now. By the way, names are pointless. Either way the others change your name in something shorter or cuter or they are giving you titles instead of your original name. The more famous you are the more titles you get, for example - Itachi. And me, I' ve always been called 'Sasuke-and suffix of your choice' all my life. So why a name?
"How about…" Itachi started after what seemed for an eternity. Another breeze wind up, the surrounding went along with it, waving carelessly in the rhythm of it. The Uchiha's eyes changed into an 'anytime ready' ninja stare as he voiced out his thoughts.
"Naruto."
"What? Sensei, why Naruto? I don't think that this is a fitting name for such a cute animal. No, I wouldn't name it Naruto." The pink contered in protest.
There is something. Sasuke thought and his eyes drifted around.
While Sakura suggested a few names Sasuke and Itachi were fixing a spot behind them and in the next second a strange figure jumped out of a tree, lunging at the prodigy. Sakura squealed in horror when Itachi threw a few shuriken at the figure and it fell down on the ground and vanished with a puff.
"Why Sensei?! It was-" She started to call out but stopped when Itachi gave her a look to be quiet. He then charged to the tree. Sasuke smirked lightly and stepped back to lean against a tree to enjoy the show. The elder Uchiha kicked with great strength the tree from where the figure from earlier came from. The impact made the plant shake wildly and another figure fell down to the ground. It rubbed his aching backside and glared up at Itachi standing in front of him.
"Itachi-Sensei, that was mean. Didn't you have any other ways to bring me down from the tree?" He ranted, cursing under his breath.
"Not really. I wanted to stop your pointless actions, Naruto." He answered in absolute indifference.
Naruto? Now I get it. Then he was the strange figure who lunged at Sensei. But why was Sensei so brutal? Makes me shudder somehow when I imagine that he could be that rough towards me too. Sakura shuddered in her inner at that thought.
"Stop me? Why!?" He went on with his ranting but Itachi only sighed at this.
"Because time is over. We were searching for you to tell you that the test is over. I want to talk it over and evaluate it. But when you tried to attack me I had no other choice than to stop you in order to say: Stop it, time is over." He explained and Naruto stood up, knocking the dirt out of him and walking ahead, mumbling unintelligible words.
Somehow it was amusing. Itachi kicked with an kind of 'Dynamic Entry' attack the tree and then Naruto fell down. It was like harvesting the fruit. But when Itachi suddenly did that I was a bit surprised what for methods he uses to stop or win his fights. Somehow scary. But these were only his 'basic tricks' which could be used by every Genin. It wasn't a skill of a higher level.
"Let's go to the beginning of this, to our meeting place and talk about it." An order of their Sensei and Sakura wasted no time and did what was told, walking up to the already ahead Naruto and joining him. Sasuke hesitated and waited wondering why Itachi didn't go along. The elder bowed down to the grass, his hands reached out and then he cupped the hawk in it which hoped into the hold without any protest. He stood up, intending to go but then he stopped not even turning around as he spoke up.
"Are you coming or not?" A question, pointed to the younger one.
Sasuke gave no answer as he already walked ahead, catching up to the other's and Itachi waited no longer and catched up as well, walking in line with his three students towards the said place.
- At the meeting place –
The meeting place: a place with grass everywhere you could look and with some spots without a covering. The trees and bushes were a bit more distant and on a special circle- like spot was a big stone in the center with a gravestone-like shaped rock, on which was something carved. It was a memorial.
On a grass spot sat the three Genin facing their Sensei at the opponent side. No one said a word but waited for Itachi speak first. But he said nothing at all only enjoying the comforting scene. The sun shone down making them warmer, a soft breeze brushed by and the birds were flying over them gently chirping as if they wanted to say that this is a beautiful day. Itachi looked up to them smiling lightly as he saw the ease of them.
"It's a wonderful day." He said and let a low content sigh out.
"Itachi, stop talking crap like this and come to the point." Sasuke retorted and glared at his brother, ready to conter his every stupid statement which don't belong to the test. Sighing once more and this time in a not content way the elder Uchiha ran his hand through the feathers of the hawk. It was sitting in his lap and had its eyes closed only enjoying the brushing of feathers. Itachi smiled down for a moment and then he continued.
"Fine. Now to the reason why we are sitting here. Your test is-"
"Did we pass?" Naruto interrupted his Sensei and put on a grin.
A short pause followed with Sasuke looking away to the sky above him and Sakura watching the young Uchiha in fascination.
"I wasn't-" Itachi tried to explain.
"Nee, Itachi-Sensei, did we? Did we, did we, did we?" The impatience as well as the rudeness of the blonde made Itachi stop caressing the still unnamed bird.
"Naruto. First of all I wanted to say I wasn't done yet. Second, no, you all failed."
Everyone, including Sasuke, stared at Itachi in disbelief.
Growling in anger Naruto yelled at his Sensei. "But why? Why did we fail?!" Sakura could only agree. "Why Sensei?" Itachi stayed calm at the disappointed Genins and his left hand went to his belt.
"Right me if I'm wrong but I think I still have the two bells you should have taken away from me." He answered in indifference and showed them the two golden little bells.
"Time is over and you haven't managed to get only one. I said you have to get them and you didn't, so you failed. But even if you had a bell you were still unqualified for being a real ninja." Anger surged through the blonde's body as he let out another growl. Sakura only turned away from the shame. But she turned her gaze back when Sasuke protested.
"Why? Why are we that unqualified as a ninja, Itachi?" Do you think YOU are perfect?!" He yelled at his brother as his fist shook in anger and the elder Uchiha pulled his hand away, putting the hawk beneath him on the ground.
"It's because…" A strong breeze brushed past the three ninja as their eyes widened at the scene before them. Itachi was no longer in front of them but stood next to Naruto and held a kunai against his throat. Sakura gasped in surprise and Sasuke was already on one knee, ready to stand up and fight but he was too slow.
"…you still haven't figured out the required ability yet. I wanted to see it in your fight but you haven't even figured out in the slightest way what you all lack."
Naruto gulped at the emotionless tone the Uchiha held and his body shivered in surprise. Itachi didn't even need one second to be next to him. His movements were fast and unable to catch up with normal untrained eyes.
"…five…"
Eyes widened and filled with the meaning of this word. Sasuke growled at that, mumbling a quiet "Damn." As sudden as it happened it stopped, the prodigy pulled his kunai back in its holder and backed one step away, turning around to face the surrounding before him. The blonde touched his throat still in surprise and in shock.
"Do you get it now? You're done for: time is over, Naruto is at five deaths and you still don't know why you failed. You are too unqualified to be a ninja. Just learn from it and never do that again, this grave mistake." Monotone and almost harsh sounded his words, hitting the three Genin in the center of their morals.
"Learn from it." He repeated as he turned around facing their stare as well as the different feelings flowing through them and reflecting the messages in their eyes.
"What do you mean Sensei?" Sakura stuttered out.
"Learn from it. Learn what you lack, what you need and then pass. This is your very last chance." All expressions changed to surprise and disbelief. They got a second and last chance.
Why did we get this last chance? Why did he make such a wuss about the test and then gave us a chance to make it alright? If we are that unsuited and unqualified then why another chance? Did he play with us as he usually did? Or did he just has something in mind, a plan? Or is this the 'real test' and that before was just a joke to test our capacity? No, dragging out the required skill is his intention even if he has to do hundred of tests. He wants to see the skill we need. In other words: no going home until we find out what he wants from us.
"Here are the rules: Sakura, you are at three deaths. Sasuke you are at three too and you Naruto, you are at four again. Therefore you only have five minutes to do it and you have to fight me face to face. No running away, no backing down and no giving up, your last chance don't mess it up!" There was it again the fire in his eyes, the thrill of fighting. Itachi said his words like a commander to his soldiers, no disobeying was allowed only perfectly carrying out the order of his. Sasuke smirked at this. This time he could get back at his brother without him running away again.
The prodigy took the bird in his hands and put it down on the arrow-like shaped stone so it won't get involved into their fight. As he put it down the hawk gave him a sad gaze and Itachi smiled lightly and brushed its feathers for a moment before turning around to face his students and giving them the signal.
"Second round, last chance. Get ready and fight, now!"
The moment Itachi finished his words he took up his fighting stance, prepared for the next attacks. The three Genin stood in line and only Sasuke had positioned himself into a more 'ready to fight' stance but neither of them moved one bit.
What should I say? I think we were all tensed – of course I was the exception. It was the first time for us to fight our Sensei without any escape, face to face in an nearly serious death fight. We could clearly feel our sweat drops rolling down our back and cheeks, expressing our uneasiness. Now there was no way out: our fight began.
'ttebayo. What should I do? What is the best? Now here is my chance and I can't move. My body just doesn't want to. What now?
I'm scared. Sensei knocked me out once and already showed that he is ready to do everything to win his fights. I don't know what to do. What now?
Damn. I already know that the most of my attacks won't work on him but I have no other tricks at the moment. What now?
"Come on, I'll let you do your first move." Itachi encouraged them with his provokation but they stayed still, frozen in their thoughts.
What now? They all thought at the same time.
"That's what I said." The three Genin snapped back from their thoughts when they heard their Sensei speaking, catching their attention.
"Do you understand it now? You lack it, you can't win without it. You simply need it. Tell me: how would you face an opponent of a Jonin or even an ANBU level when you are all just Genin? How would you fight if it's three Genin against one ANBU? Tell me. The answer is so simple. How would you fight, what would you three do?" He went on trying to explain them how to win without saying the answer out loud.
I almost said the answer. Come on Sasuke, I know that you must have found out by now. Make a plan. I know that you three have the potential to make it.
I guess this proves that he really thinks of us as stupid. The answer is so easy, so simple. But of course it's so near and yet so far away for us to reach. But hey, I'm an Uchiha and we Uchihas are famous for our fights because we are strong and strategic. We have often won in the past because of that, because of our Bloodline Limit and our strategically working mind.
Now I understand, I got it.
Smirking again Sasuke spoke up quietly only for the other two to hear. "Naruto, Sakura, come closer I have a plan."
"Why do you think it will work?" Naruto asked annoyed and somewhat pissed off because the Uchiha let his blood getting the best of him and again showed them clearly his 'bossy nature'. But nonetheless he did what was told and came over. Sakura didn't need to be told twice as she already was at Sasuke's side, blushing like always. The Uchiha glanced for a short moment at his elder brother, noticing that he stood on the same spot with his arms crossed, waiting for them to be ready.
You will see Itachi. I will find the answer to your ridiculous 'test'. Just wait for it.
"Why? Because I know him." Naruto mumbled at his answer and crossed his arms in a offended manner.
"Listen closely and only act like this…" Sasuke told them his plan and what part they would play in it. Naruto of course wasn't pleased with it but Sakura was very hyper about it, her eyes were sparkling with amazement.
"So, ikuzo!" He finished with his command and the three Genin immediately split up in one line with a kunai in their hand.
Itachi lifted his eyebrow in curiosity as he loosened his composure into a ready to fight stance again. The wind blew over the battlefield, marking the beginning of their second fight.
Naruto started first. He made his favourite seal and released five shadow clones. They stormed up to Itachi, jumping high in the air to land a hard hit against the Uchiha. The prodigy took out five shuriken and threw them at the clones and they disappeared with a puff of smoke. In the next second a rain of shuriken approached him as he jumped into the air to dodge them. Sasuke appeared then before his sight and threw a fist at him. Itachi took a hold of his wrist and at the other as the younger pulled back for another blow at him. The Genin smirked as they were about to fall down and he aimed his kick at Itachi's stomach. But he wasn't the prodigy for nothing and let go of his brother's hands and landed perfectly on the ground without any trouble. Sasuke stopped his impact a few feet across as he glanced at his comrades, mutely telling them to start the next attack.
Damn, he is good. We have to distract him further.
Now it was Sakura's turn but she merely stood frozen on her spot not knowing what to do but then she did what first came to her mind and threw another amount of shuriken at her Sensei. He dodged easily by stepping enough to the side and was then trapped in a tight grip of a few Naruto clones.
"How was that Sensei?" Naruto asked with a smug smile on his face as he tightened his grip on the Uchiha til he had to spit out some stomach acid.
"Not bad. But when do you guys finally realize that life is never that easily as it seems?" He smirked and then Naruto released his grip due to the fact that Itachi was no longer in there. He again used a replacement technique and stood at another spot with still that smirk on his face.
"Kuso!" Naruto exclaimed angrily. "I almost had him!"
"But only almost." Itachi corrected and made his seals.
"Not again. Out of his way, it's his fire technique!" Sasuke warned the others and they jumped simultaneous away form the huge fireball. They hid for a few moments longer in the trees, thinking of a new opening to create. Naruto suddenly jumped out of the tree and made again a few clones.
That baka. When does he finally realize that this is useless against him?! I think I have to use that now.
The clones along with the real Naruto dashed towards Itachi. The Uchiha dodged every attack while knocking one clone out. When it was only one left, the real one, he smirked and took out a kunai. Naruto growled, taking out a kunai as well and tried to land a strike at him. But as he ran up to him the sight suddenly became blurr, smoke filled the air.
A smoke-bomb? Sasuke, this was your idea.
Sakura and Naruto both covered their mouths and coughed, unable to move though it was now the best time for it. Even Itachi was now distracted to the dirty air around him. He coughed, trying to clean his lungs as he let his eyes close to block the dust from coming into them. He now concentrated merely on the sounds he was hearing. He heard footsteps. They were quick and almost quiet, drawing nearer to him. He sensed something very close and without further ado he moved his left hand to his belt and took a hold of what was there. He heard a gasp followed by a growl.
"Nice try, Sasuke." He said with his uncaring voice and tightened his grip more on the wirst he was holding, blocking his little brother from stealing the bells.
"You think you are so smart, Itachi. You aren't. You are just…"
He cut himself off, drawing closer to his brother but was still held in place. Itachi couldn't really see good enough due to the smoke that was still lingering around but he could feel something warm. He could feel warm breath on his skin. It was tickeling his senses, his mind going numb from his body touching Sasuke's in a soft way. He was close, too close for his racing thoughts. His heart beated faster when a gentle finger traced his way up his torso.
I could feel Itachi's heartbeat speeding up through his clothes. I didn't know what I was doing but I couldn't stop myself from doing it. For the first time I had control over him. And I smirked to myself, loving the feeling of being the stronger one this time. I wanted to lecture him but ended up in something different, in something new: the sensation of touching him softly yet teasingly and making his heart beat faster, more unsteady with me having the control over every single movement he does. It felt… pleasant. But of course as suddenly as it started it ended.
The touch ended when Sasuke stopped at his collar only to grap him tightly around there, pulling Itachi closer to him. He leaned in even closer, a smirk played across his face when he felt Itachi stop his breathing for a moment and his heart skip a beat.
"…easy to read."
He whispered near Itachi's ear and then drew back. The grip on his wrist was gone, forgotten, as well as the grip on the other's collar. The smoke loosened up and revealled two Uchiha's standing close to one other with the elder one seemingly lost in thoughts when he suddenly snapped back and put a good distance between them. Sasuke smirked like never before but in his mind he was wondering, wondering about what came over him to do something like that.
Why did I? And why did it feel good to me? God, Itachi really knows how to confuse someone without uttering a single word. Okay Sasuke, put yourself back together and concentrate on your goal again: this test.
I got carried away. The moment I felt his touch everything else stopped inside my body. My lungs stopped breathing, my mind stopped working and my heart stopped beating. I have to stop. I have to put myself together and continue what I started: this test.
Sakura blinked a few times, trying to understand what happened while the smoke was present and Naruto cursed himself for Sasuke's better chances to get the bells. Itachi sighed, freeing the breath he was holding and then looked up into his brother's eyes. He was surprised to see nothing in them except for confusion. He must have a fight inside himself, wondering about the last seconds. Sasuke hasn't moved or said anything so it was Itachi's time to take action. He disappeared only to re-appear behind Naruto, holding a kunai against his throat. The blonde gulped uneasy, lifting his hands to put them together to form his shadow clones. But before he could do so he was catched at his wrists by his Sensei. He just needed his free hand to hold them together while he still threatened him with his other hand.
"What now Naruto? You can't do anything and I'm about to slice your throat til you bleed to death. What will you do to stop me? What can you do?" He mocked slightly, putting the kunai more against the skin but not to break it. Naruto just cursed and Itachi glanced over to his other two students, reading their expression and waiting for them to do something.
Come on, Sasuke. Now or never. Use your chance, it's the only one you have left.
Sasuke met his eyes with his own black ones and then he smirked.
"Sakura, now." He said and she nodded. They both ran up to the captured Naruto and threatened Itachi with their own kunai.
"Itachi, let go of him. We have the upper hand now." Sasuke stated without any emotions. Itachi smiled for a short moment before he responsed in the same tone.
"Sasuke, if I let him go now you two are done for. Do you want this?" He stared at Sasuke, waiting for his answer somehow hoping he would chose the right one. The young Uchiha had now two choices left: Either way he saved Naruto or not and he made his decision.
"Drop your kunai, now." He commanded while staring down with hard eyes. Itachi smiled again and let go of Naruto's grip and put his kunai back.
"Well…" Itachi began and turned around. "Time is over."
Naruto and Sakura let out a gasp of surprise and shock.
No dattebayo. We failed.
Shanaroo, not again!
"And…" Sasuke began, smirking. "We did it." He finished and lifted his right hand when Itachi turned towards him and opened it to reveal two little golden bells.
"I have the bells."
A 'I can't believe it, ttebayo', a high pitched squeal and a emotionless but smiling reaction followed. The two wanted to jump into the air and just scream 'we finally did it' but they stopped when they heard a chuckle coming from their Sensei.
"Congratulations but we are not done yet." The happy faces faded into surprise and disbelief. Sasuke growled angrily almost squeezing the bells into pieces.
"You have the two bells so what? What will you do now?" Itachi asked his students.
"What do you mean Sensei?" Came an unsure reply from the pink haired kunoichi.
The prodigy sighed, pointing his index finger at the bells Sasuke was holding.
"We have two bells but we are three Genin. What will you do now?" He pointed at his students to show them the difference in numbers and they understood. The Genins let their head drop down. They were once again defeated by another trap of their Sensei.
"I think you understand what I mean. So now tell me, this is your last chance: will you decide who takes the bell and who will be left alone or do you want to stay in the acedemy, forever? Think hard about it before you decide on your destiny." Itachi told them, putting his finger in front of his empty face but his eyes spoke of something the three have never seen before. His eyes held a strong determination as if he exactly knew how it is to make such decisions.
All three young shinobis burried their brows together in thinking. Naruto ruffled his hair in uncertainty, Sakura looked at the ground and Sasuke had his eyes closed. Two of them sighed only the young Uchiha didn't show his unsureness. But then his eyes flew open and he pointed his right index finger at Itachi, speaking with an unbreakable certainty.
"I will not take the bell! I'd rather go back to the acedemy. How do you guys think about it?" He asked his comrades and suddenly their whole composure changed into something more powerful, their eyes shone with the same certainty Sasuke held.
"That's right ttebayo! I haven't done this whole thing just to leave someone behind! We did it as a team! Only as a team we could take these bells from you!" Naruto exclaimed.
"I have to agree with Sasuke-kun and Naruto. We will pass together or stay together! No matter what!" Sakura said with enthusiasm.
Itachi let his hand drop down to his hip, smirking at them. "Are you sure about it? Is this what you all want?" The three didn't response, their eyes told enough of an answer. His gaze lingered a few moments longer at them and it was then when he smiled - a rare true smile.
"You pass. You are all offical Genin of team 7 now."
Sasuke smirked, Sakura jumped into the air and Naruto let a happy tear drop down his face when he did the same as his pink haired comrade and jumped into the air as well.
"Though the answer was so easy you had the biggest difficulties with finding it. Ninja teams are always three man cells. You had to pass through two conditions to become one, first: fighting together to get the bells. If you had got a bell all by yourself without any help you wouldn't have get through. Now second and more importantly: There were only two bells but you are three Genin so you had to decide that you'd rather stay alltogether at the acedemy, if necessary forever, than… betray a comrade. You have to follow many orders in your life but the most important order for yourself should be: never leave a comrade behind. I'd rather disobey my orders than to sacrifice my teammates or worst a friend, a person who is important to me. Maybe it's not right and not the best for the sake of Konoha but that's something you have to decide all on your own and to your own hearts contentment. Always remember that: you are the only one to decide on your destiny." His eyes were showing them that he told them the truth about what he felt and what he thought.
I knew it. Itachi you always said to me that you can read me like a book but now I can do it as well. I knew that you wanted this from us. I must admit I had to think about it a bit to come to the right answer but then it was clear that you wanted only this: teamwork.
Yeah, it was teamwork he wanted all along. From the very beginning that was his intention and from the very beginning he toyed with us. But it was only to show us what the right answer to this test is. He wanted us to find it out by ourselves. He was right. The answer was really too easy, yet so difficult to find. And what he said was something that made me think. He said that he'd rather disobey his orders than abandon someone? Really? Yes, he would. He doesn't look like it but… he hates sacrifices. He can't stand it when someone would give his life for a mission. That's why he said it. I think this is something that makes a true shinobi.
Sakura and Naruto smiled, glad to be finally a real and offical Genin and glad for this to be over.
"Dattebayo, finally over! Now what will we do next? But please Sensei! Not another test! How about-" A loud growl came from Naruto's stomach. "We eat something?" His eyes were pleading as he held his growling area. Sakura blushed a little, feeling hungry as well. Sasuke averted his eyes, feeling punished for having such a team.
Itachi laughed to himself at the loud noises coming from Naruto. "Hungry? But it's only past seven. Didn't have any breakfast?"
"No, I woke up too late and had to hurry up to be here! I had to leave out my beloved breakfast!" Naruto protested.
And I didn't eat something to lose a bit weight. Sakura thought and felt her stomach crumble from the lack of food.
"Really? You shouldn't make sacrifices in that way. Well, I wanted you to invite for a lunch anyway. So how about we go and eat something at my costs as to celebrate your successful day?" Itachi suggested and immediately saw Naruto agree, nodding his head wildly.
"Ikuzo."
The blonde gave a 'hell yeah!' and went ahead of the group, already thinking of what to eat. He clasped his hands together and felt like drooling only at his thoughts.
"But Sensei, you really want to pay for all of us?" Sakura asked with a bit worry, imagining the bill because of Naruto. She walked at the same heigh of her Sensei, following the impatient blonde.
"Don't worry about that. I have enough for that." She nodded and began to think what to order since she didn't have any breakfast.
Complete idiots. Sasuke thought, mentally slapping himself. But as he walked a few steps behind his new team and Sensei and when they left the training ground and entered the busy streets of Konoha again he felt a little smile play on his face.
Phew. FINALLY this stupid test is over (in the anime it was much shorter but I think a bit too childish. How'd you like the teasing of Sasuke? It's obvious that Itachi feels something for him but would Sasuke ever notice? No. So! In the next chapters the next mission is coming and behold – it will have Yaoi! You read right! I decided that I should write a bit of it to satisfy our needs :D See ya next chapter again!
Btw… what happened to the hawk?!